I’ve been meaning to get into classics for several years now, and although I’ve read a handful a year, I’m determined to really up my game this year. I’m particularly looking forward to getting to know some of the more obscure women writers that I’ve seen mentioned on various blog and booktube channels.
I’m setting myself a personal target to try at least one novel by a ‘classic’ woman writer and at least one other classic (of any type/ author) each month next year. I’ll be combining my personal goals with some existing readathons: #Victober, #Georgianary, #ClassicsCommunity and #JaneAustenJuly. *Phew!*
I’ve picked 12 female authors who published work pre-1914. They’re all pretty prolific and pretty well-known — I think — so should be easy enough to find a good selection to choose from. If this works well, I’ll try and pick a wider, more diverse 12 to carry on with in 2021 as I’ve noticed how this list is mostly British Georgian/ Victorian and entirely white. Suggestions for that would be appreciated.
If you’d like to join me, just choose any book by the selected author to read each month. Then, feel free to link reviews, twitter updates and photos or post your thoughts and discussion points in the comments. You can also use the hashtag #classicwomen2020 to keep in touch.
Obviously, if there’s an author you’re just not interested in, feel free to substitute one you are.
All the authors names link to their Project Gutenberg page.
January: FANNY BURNEY
February: MARIA EDGEWORTH
March: EMMUSKA ORCZY
April: DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK
June: MARGARET OLIPHANT
July: JANE AUSTEN
This is also the month for the Jane Austen July readathon so it makes sense to put this here. I know Austen’s popular though, so if you already read or don’t fancy her books, try ELIZABETH INCHBALD instead.
August: ELIZABETH VON ARNIM
September: GEORGE ELIOT
October: EMILY, ANNE OR CHARLOTTE BRONTE
This is the Victober readathon month, so I’ve made it pretty open with a couple to pick from. I really recommend trying Anne’s lesser known two novels.
November: MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT SHELLEY
If you’ve read Frankenstein and don’t fancy Shelley’s other books, try Adeline Mowbray by AMELIA OPIE which is loosely based on Mary’s life.
December: ELIZABETH GASKELL
My potential TBR
January: Evelina by Fanny Burney
February: Belinda by Maria Edgeworth
March: The Ninescore Mystery by Emmuska Orczy
April: Olive by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik
May: Lady Audley’s Secret by M. E. Braddon
June: The Executor, The Rector & The Doctor’s Family by Mrs. Oliphant
July: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen & A Simple Story by Elizabeth Inchbald
August: The Benefactress by Elizabeth von Arnim
September: Middlemarch by George Eliot
October: Villette by Charlotte Brontë
November: Mathilda by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
December: North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell & perhaps some of her short stories
Foxes and Fairy Tales 
Good luck with this challenge! I’ve always had a hard time reading and enjoying classics but I’m going to live vicariously through you and see what you think of these authors ❤
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I’m actually really looking forward to it! Which is exciting. I was so set against reading classics for years after the things we got forced on us in school. I’ve been really interested to see all the options out there.
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What a wonderful challenge. I can think of a few other authors I would put on my list (or recommend to others)!
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Thanks Davida! I’d love to hear them! Narrowing down my ideas to just 12 was really tricky, but I’m still keen to hear more!
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Charlotte Perkins Gilman for one! She wrote the iconic novella “Herland” and the equally iconic short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
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I really enjoyed The Yellow Wallpaper! I’ll add Herland to my TBR 😊
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I reviewed it on my blog a while back. The edition I bought had a bunch of stories including The Yellow Wallpaper – but the others weren’t as good. Herland, however… well worth it!
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